Blog: Mar 2016

As part of their current inquiry, the RJC and Why me? recently gave a joint briefing to members of the Justice Select Committee on restorative justice. It was an interesting and enjoyable session – an opportunity to discuss issues in a less straightened setting than when giving formal evidence. Amid a plethora of thought-provoking questions, one stood out as meriting further discussion.

The Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, published a report yesterday on restorative justice, the first of two considering its use. This one looks at the quality of service that restorative justice service providers are delivering, while the second will look at victims’ experiences. The focus of this report is welcome.

Last week, the RJC released the results of a mapping exercise of restorative justice provision in the criminal justice sector, carried out on our behalf by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research at Birkbeck University. This exercise was far from straightforward and the results are, as with any survey, limited by who was willing to respond.